Hosiery welt construction



May 13, 1941- R. E. cLAussNER 2,242,054

HOSIERY WELT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1939 fzvefztaf E@ 562765. aussfzef Patented May 13,` 1941 HosIEaY WELT Icorrs'rrmfc'rIoN Robert E. Claussner, Paducah, Ky., assignor to Claussner Hosiery Company, Paducah, Ky.

Application May I2, 1939, tSerial No. 271,242

ICl. 66-173) '.11 Claims.

The present invention generally relates to hosiery, more particularly to a welt construction for full-fashioned stockings, and primarily aims to provide a welt constructed to impart a maximum degree of stretch and resiliency to the welt fabric.

The desirability of providing stockings with a stretchable, resilient welt so that the same may properly adapt itself to the wearers leg and snugly fit the part of the leg above the knee is well recognized in the art and, in recent years, eXtensive developments have been carried out with that aim in view, the developments ranging from the utilization of loose loop courses to the use of rubber threads or yarns in the fabric. However, the utilization of loose loop courses has proven to be undesirable because, although the loose loop construction permits the fabric to stretch, the construction robs the fabric of its normal resiliency, with the result that said fabric acquires an unsightly, baggy appearance, especially after wearing and laundering.

Likewise, the use of rubber threads or yarns in the fabric has failed to give satisfactory results for, while the introduction of the rubber threads or yarns in the knitted fabric allows full stretching thereof and acts to retract the same, the natural retractive action of the rubber threads or yarns is such that it causes the loops to bunch up, thus puckering the fabric and destroying the characteristic surface appearance thereof.

It is, therefore, `a most important object of the invention to provide a stocking welt construction having a sufficient degree of stretch to possess the desirable features of loose loop or rubber thread welts, without the inherent disadvantages thereof.

The invention is especially characterized by the provision of a welt fabric consisting of a plurality of series of courses respectively knitted from separate specific yarns of relatively low and high twist, associated in a particular manner to produce the results stated, the low twist yarn affording the required stretchability to the fabric, and the high twist yarn acting to impart the proper resiliency thereto.

Another -characteristic feature of the invention resides in the provision of a welt construction knitted from a plurality of yarns of different character, associated in such a manner as to increase the strength, elasticity, clinging action, and run-resist qualities of the fabric.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have, in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out a possible embodiment of the invention.

In this drawing: f

Figure 1 illustrates a stocking having a welt and after-welt construction made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged portion of welt fabric diagrammatically illustrating the formation thereof.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mode of laying the yarns for the Iknitting of the welt fabric.

Figure 4 diagrammatically shows the construction of one of the yarns used in knitting the Welt construction.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the construction of another yarn used in knitting the Welt fabric.

Having more particular reference to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in Figure 1 a full-fashioned knitted stocking, indicated in its entirety by the reference character I0, and consisting of the leg fabric I2, and the foot fabric I4. The leg fabric includes the welt I 6 and after-welt I8. The welt I6 preferably is of the double ply type having a picot edge 20 at the point where the welt is turned and extending to the welt line 22 where the inner and outer walls of said double ply welt are joined.

The after-Welt I8 is single ply and extends from the welt line 22 to a point 24 normally located slightly above the knee.

In accordance with the invention, and as represented in the drawing, the welt I6 and afterwelt I8 consist of multiple series of courses, each series preferably consisting of three courses respectively designated by the reference characters I, 2, and 3, which are repeated in identical sequence throughout the combined area of said welt and after-welt.

Also, in accordance with the invention and as shown in the drawing, each of two courses in the series, that is, courses I and 2, is knitted from one silk yarn, whereas the third course in the series, that is, course 3, is knitted from two separate silk yarns. In other words, as will more clearly appear from Figure 3, the courses I are knitted from a yarn AI, the courses 2 from a yarn A2, and the courses 3 from a yarn A3 and a yarn B.

The yarn AI, the yarn A2, and the yarn A3 are identical in type and character, that is, they are composed of the same kind of threads, have the same number of threads, and the same twist, but the yarn B diiiers from said yarns AI, A2, and A3 in that it is composed of different kinds of threads, has a different number of threads, and a diierent twist.

Of preference, the yarns AI, A2, and A3 are each composed, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 4, of six untwisted threads O` unitedly twisted to the right about eight turns per inch, and the yarn B is composed, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 5, of four threads, that is, two untwisted threads O and two threads T twisted to the right approximately 36 turns to the inch, said four threads Ibeing unitedly twisted to the left about 32 turns per inch.

The stocking l D, with the improved welt I6 and after-Welt |'8 of the construction referred to, may be produced on any suitable known type of fullfashioned knitting machine having a three-carrier attachment commonly used in the art for the1 selective reciprocation of three yarn carriers to lay the yarns in repeated alternating sequence.

For the knitting of the welt and after-welt, two of the carriers of the knitting machine are respectively threaded with yarn AI and yarn A2,

and a third carrier is threaded with yarn A3 and.

rier III remaining at the left side and carrier I remaining at the right side of the knitting section. Then carrier III, threaded with yarn A3 and yarn B, is moved from the left to the right and lays said yarns for the knitting of course 3, while carriers I and II are respectively stationed at the right and left sides of the knitting section.y During the knitting of the subsequent seriesof three courses throughout the length of the welt and after-welt, the alternating operation of,

the carriers is repeated, each carrier moving in,l a direction opposite to that of its movement in;

the preceding series.

In Ithis manner, it will be understood that, in knitting the welt =`lili and after-welt 18, the rst.

course in each series is knitted with yarn A=I, the second course in each series .is knitted with yarn A2, and the third course in each series is knitted with yarn A3 and yarn B.

After the knitting of the welt and after-welt is completed, the remaining portions of lthe stocking are knitted according to the usual procedure.

common in the art, the three-carrier ringlessl principle being preferably followed, and the stocking is completed by seaming the fabric blank as usual.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that every third course in the welt and after-welt is knitted from a yarn twisted to a relatively'low degree in one direction, and a yarn twisted to a relatively high degree in the opposite direction, and that the intermediate courses are' respectively knitted from yarns twisted to the same degree and in the same direction as the low twisted yarn in said third course.'-

Because of this particular association and corelation of courses and yarns, the welt and afterwelt are given the necessary degree of stretch and resiliency to permit the proper adaptation to the wearers thigh without undue fabric distortion. Stretchability is imparted to the welt construction because of the low twist yarns, which permit the fabric to expand to its fullest extent, whereas resiliency is created by the presence of the high twist yarn which act-s to return the fabric loo-ps to their original position.

This resiliency of the fabric is moreover enhanced 4due to the fact that -a high twist yarn and a low twist yarn, respectively twisted in opposite directions, are knitted together in certain courses. It will also be appreciated that the incorporation of the 4high twist yarn in spaced courses throughout the welt construction minimizes the danger 'of runs occurring in the fabric, because such high twist yarn will resist undue strain more effectively than the low twist yarns. Also, should one of the yarns in the course break, the remaining yarn will prevent thev occurrence of a run in the welt or afterwelt.l

Whereas there has specifically been shown and described herein one possible embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that said embodiment may be modified without departure from the gist of the invention. Accordingly, any mcdicaticn coming within the scope of the subjoined claims is to be considered within the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A stocking welt construction comprising multiple series of courses, the success-ive courses in each series being respectively knitted from separate yarns, each series including one course knitted from a low twist yarn and a high twist yarn, and the remaining courses in the series being individually knitted from a low twist yarn;

l2. A stocking welt construction comprising multiple series of cours-es, the successive courses in each series being respectively knitted from separate yarns, each series including one course knitted fromY a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree in one direction and a yarn twisted at a relatively high degree in the opposite direction, the remaining coursesin the series being individually knitted from a yarn of the same character as the low twist yarn in the mentioned course.

3. -A stocking welt construction comprising multiple series of courses, the successive courses in each series being respectively knitted from separate yarns, each series including one course knitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree to the right, and a yar-n twisted at a relatively high degree tothe left, and the remaining courses in the series being individually knitted from a yarn twisted at `a relatively low degree to the right.

4. A stocking welt construction comprising multiple series of three courses, one course in the series being knitted from a low twist yarn and a high twist yarn, and the remaining two courses in the series being individually knitted from a low twist yarn.

5.*A stocking welt construction comprising multiple series of three courses, one course in the series beingknitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree in one direction and a yarn twisted at a relatively high degree in the opposite direction, and the remaining two courses in the seriesbeing individually knitted from a yarn of the same character as the low twist yarn in the first mentioned course.

6. A stocking welt construction comprising multiple series of three courses, the first course in the seriesY being knitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree in one direction, the

second course in the series being knitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree in the same direction, and the third course in each series being knitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree in that same direction and a yarn twisted at a relatively high degree in the opposite direction.

7. In a stocking of the type described, a welt and after-Welt fabric comprising multiple series of courses, the successive courses in each series being respectively knitted from separate yarns, each series including one course knitted from a low twist yarn and a high twist yarn, and the remaining courses in the series being individually knitted from a low twist yarn.

8. In a stocking of the type described, a welt and after-welt fabric comprising multiple series of courses, the successive courses in each series being respectively knitted from separate yarns, each series including one course knitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree in one direction and a yarn twisted at a relatively high degree in the opposite direction, the remaining courses in the series being individually knitted from a yarn of the same character as the low twist yarn in the mentioned course.

9. In a stocking of the type described, a welt and after-welt fabric comprising multiple series of courses, the successive courses inv each series being respectively knitted from separate yarns, each series including one course knitted from a yarn twisted at a relatively low degree to the right, and a yarn twisted at a relatively high degree to the left, and the remaining courses in the series being individually knitted from a yarn twisted at a relativelyv low degree to the right.

10. A stocking welt comprising a multi series of groups of courses, one course in each group being knitted from a plurality of yarns of relatively high and low degree of twist, and each of the remaining courses in the group being independently knitted from a yarn of substantially the same degree of twist as one of said plurality of yarns.

11. A knitted stocking comp-rising a foot fabric, a leg fabric, and a Welt fabric consisting of a multi series of groups of courses, one course in each group knitted from a plurality of yarns of relatively high and low degrees of twist and each of the remaining courses in the group being knitted from a yarn of substantially the same degree of twist as one of said plurality of yarns.

ROBERT E. CLAUSSNER. 

